On the heels of last year’s massively successful “OWN Your Vote” campaign, Perry helped launch “OWN Your Health,” which seeks to provide Black women with tools and resources to improve health outcomes. It’s the latest example of Perry’s focus on corporate responsibility as president of the network. OWN consistently has series that rank among the top 10 for Black women 25-54, and Perry’s always on the hunt for content that will resonate with the net’s audience. She’s forged relationships with producers such as Will Packer and Carlos King, and the net has added gospel music specials and holiday movies. Perry recommends reading journalist Joann Lublin’s “Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World.” “A common denominator in all of these women’s inspiring stories is that a woman’s path in corporate America is one often fraught with uncertainty from myriad perspectives,” she says.
Best advice for someone looking to re-enter the workforce after a hiatus?
Re-entering workforce can be daunting, but it’s best to think of this as an experience where you’re not alone. For one, I think it’s essential to tell your network of friends and professional peers you are looking to re-enter the job market. Don’t keep this decision a secret. Two, it’s important to be malleable as in today’s landscape there is no one way to find and land a role. For instance, being open to part-time or contract work could be a good gateway as these temporary positions can often lead to full-time opportunities.
What one female empowerment book do you think every woman should read?
I would recommend Joann Lublin’s “Earning It: Hard-Won Lessons from Trailblazing Women at the Top of the Business World.” Lublin is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and a former Wall Street Journal reporter and her professional experience is keen as she gets more than fifty female executives to openly share their experiences—both successful and stressful—in the workplace.
